Splice head for electric cables



Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED S'iiTES' ATENl UFFICE. j

ALEX c. RUMBLE, or Los ANGELES, caLrronNm.

semen Hann massacrare cantas.

` applicati@ :ned November 19, 1925. serial No. 70,065.Y

My invention relates to an improved splice head for electric cables andhas `for its principal objects the provision ot relatively simple, practical and easily assem bled means for splicing electric currentcarrying` cables, Vand which splicing means is primarily designed to eliminate much of the time,` labor and consequent expense that is incident to the wiped lead joints ordinaf rily employed in splicing or connecting the adjacent ends of electric cables.

Further objects of my invention are to provide'a spliced head of the characterI referred to that may be readily assembled or taken apart and which head is effective in thoroughly insulating the connected por-` tions of the cables. t

lVith the `foregoing and other objects in View. my invention consists in certain novel features ot construction and arrangement of parts that will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated in theV accompanying drawing, in which- F ig. 1 is a vertical section taken lengthwise through the center of an electric cable splice head ofmy improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a` horizontal line 3-8 of Fig." 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a practical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates a hollow cylindrical shelll or casing, preferably formedof noncorrodable'metal such as copper, thelower end of said shell being closed by an integral plate 11, and-the'upper end being closedby a detachable lcap 12 of copper or like metal.

Secured to the bottom plate 11 and spaced section taken on the apart on opposite sides of the center thereof are depending rings or shells 13 of copper or the like and which gradually increase in diameter toward their lower ends. These rings or shells serve as retainers for plugs 141, preferably of `cork or analogous material and said plugs being provided with axially disposed perforations 15 for the accommodation of the lead sheaths Sof the cables. These cables are of the standard type and the lead sheaths S enclose the usual fabric insulation I and which latter jackets the conductors C. y

The cables immediately below the splice head are firmly secured to each other and maintained in spaced relation by a pair of clamping plates 16 through which vpass screwsor bolts 17 that are provided on their threaded ends with nuts 18.v These clamp-Y ingplates are arranged on the cables immediately beneath the lowerv ends of the rings or shells 13 and interposed between Vthe lower'ends of said rings or shells Vand the upper edges of the clamping plates are washers 19 of lead 0r the like. YThus the shell or casing 1() is grounded to the sheaths S of the cables through the ringsA or shells 13, lead washers 19 and clamping plates 16. The cork plugs 141, yafter being applied to the ends of the sheaths S of the cablesare forced .into the rings or shells 13, thereby providing airand moisture proof plates between the lower portion of the head and the cable sheaths. l

rlhe cables that are spliced by means of my improved head extend a short distance upwardly into shell or housing' 10 and the exposed projecting ends of the conductors U-shape and the ends ofthe conductors oc-v cupying the vertically disposed legs of said U-shaped connectors.

` After the connector 20 has been secured to the ends of the cables, the exposed surfaces ofthe latter' and the connector 20 are soV preferably wrapped withcambric tape or l the like to" provide a moisture proof insu?- lation 21. L The splice is completed by {illing the shellor casing 10.1with a suitable in# Sula-ting compound 22 and wliichlatter may be any vone of a number of' well known insulating compounds that are readily obtainable in the open marketv After Vthe shell has thus been filled with the insulating compound, cap 12 is secured in position on top-of said shell and the splice is completed.

yThus it will be seen that I have provided an electric cable lsplice head that is relatively simple in structure, capable ot being easily and cheaply produced and which, in addition to providing a very positive connection between the cables, thoroughly insulates the metal portions of the head from the current conductors. `Further, by constructing the main portions of the splice head of copper and lead, deterioration as a result of corrosion of the head andenclosediparts is minimized. v

Heretofore, it has been the general practice to splice electric cables by means of a wiped lead joint and which practice involves considerable time, labor and expense. A splice head of my improved construction may be easily and quickly applied and ii ordinary care is taken when the head is removed from the joint or splice when the latter is broken, said head may be re-used, thus providing an economical advantage.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, Vform and construction of the vayrions parts ot my improved splice head for electric cables may be made and substituted -tor those herein shown anddescribed witlr out departing from the spirit ot my invention, the scope ot which is set fort-h in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention:

l. In a splice head for electric cables comprising a metal shell, a pair of short tubular members depending from the bottom oi said shell, ringfshaped plugs of compressible material arranged. in said depending tubular members, which ring-shaped plugs ar'e adapted to receive a pair of cables, each of the latter having a conductor, a portion of the end of which within the shellis exposed, a member connecting the exposed ends ot the conductors and a body of insulating material within said shell and wholly enclosing the exposed portions or" the conductors and said connect-ing member.

2. A splice head for electric cables comprising a metal shell providedin itsV lower portion with a pairoif' openings for the reception oi cables,ka short tubular member secured in each opening and depending from the bottom of said shell, ring-shaped plugs of compressible material positioned in the depending tubular members and surrounding the cables that extend intol said shell, a

- member within said shell and Vconnected ends of the conductors that are carried by said cables, fabric insulation covering the exposed port-ions of said conductors and said connecting member and body of insulating material occupying said shell and wholly enclosing said connecting member and the ends of the cables that project into said shell.

A splice' head for electric cables comprising a met-al shell provided in its lower` portion with a pair of openings for the receptionl ot cables, ring-shaped plugs of coinpressible material positioned in the depending tubular members and surrounding the cables that extend into said shell, amember within ksaid shell and connected ends of the conductors that are carried by Said Cables, fabric-insulation covering the exposed portions ot said conductors, said connecting member and body of insulating material occupying said shell and wholly enclosing said connecting member and the ends of the cables that project into said shell and spacing clamps arranged on the cables beneath said splicing head.

4. The combination with a pair of conductor carrying cables of means for maintaining said cables in spaced relation and electrically connecting the sheaths of said Cables, a casing of metal surrounding the ends of the cables that are engaged by said connecting and spacing means, tubular .members secured to and depending from the casing said cables extending into the casing through said tubular members, ring-shaped plugs of compressible material arranged in said Vdepending Vtubular members and surrounding the cables that pass therethrough, washersfarranged on said cables below the lower ends ot' said depending tubular members and the means that electrically connects the sheaths of said cables, a vmember within said casing for connecting the ends or' the conductors that are carried by said cables,

a body of insulating material contained within the casing and wholly enclosing the conductor connecting member andy the ends of the vcables that project into said casing, and

a cap closing the upper end of said casing.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

ALEX I C. RUMBLE. 

